News in brief

Birds lay eggs earlier to cope with early spring

Wild birds in Britain have shifted their egg-laying patterns to cope with the earlier arrival of spring, scientists have found. The Oxford University team, who studied nearly 400 pairs of great tits in woodland on the outskirts of the city, found that the birds give birth to their broods two weeks earlier than they did in the mid-1970s. Climate change has driven up spring temperatures in Britain, causing an early increase in caterpillars, the birds' main food source, the study in Science magazine found. "This will help us identify species at risk from climate change," said Oxford zoologist Ben Sheldon.Ian Sample

Cost of running a car is up by 11%, says AA

British motorists are being squeezed by the global oil price, the AA has warned, with the average cost of running a car climbing by 11% in the past year. It urged the government to scrap a 2p increase in fuel duty, due in October, as road tax rises also increase costs for car owners. A global oil price of $123 (£60) a barrel is forcing up pump prices and added £645 to the cost of running a large family car last year, according to the AA's annual study of motoring costs. The steepest increase was for owners of gas-guzzling 4x4s and luxury cars, who saw their annual petrol bill climb by £2,176.Dan Milmo

Stone-age diet may lower risk of heart disease

Eating like a caveman may trim the waist and give protection against heart disease, a study suggests. Nine female and five male volunteers were put on a Palaeolithic diet of berries, nuts, lean meat, fish and vegetables while cutting out cereals, dairy products and refined sugar. After three weeks they had lost an average of 2.3kg in weight, their waistlines were slimmer, and their blood pressure was lower. They also had dramatically reduced levels of a blood-clotting agent linked to heart attacks and strokes. The study was carried out by Dr Per Wandell and his team at the Karolinska Institute in Huddinge, Sweden.Press Association

Jail officers greet Straw with no-confidence vote

Prison officers passed a vote of no confidence in the justice secretary, Jack Straw, just before he rose to address their annual union conference in Portsmouth yesterday. More than 300 delegates greeted Straw with silence before he told them that legislation banning industrial action by prison officers had yesterday reached the statute book. He also disclosed he had £50m of new Treasury money to fund a multi-year pay deal with the Prison Officers' Association. The union is angry that the government has reneged on its promise to repeal the strike ban and is staging last year's 2.5% pay rise.Alan Travis

Genetic test helps assess prostate cancer severity

Scientists have developed a gene-based test that can more accurately diagnose the severity of prostate cancer and so help its treatment. The test, which is done on urine samples, detects levels of a genetic message from the prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3), which is overexpressed in prostate cancer cells. The research, published in the Journal of Urology, involved testing the urine of 142 men undergoing either a prostate removal operation or a biopsy. Joseph Babaian, at the University of Texas MD Anderson cancer centre, in Houston, said levels of PCA3 were strongly correlated with tumour size.James Randerson

Man accused of murder in poem is found not guilty

A teenager branded a killer in a poem displayed on lampposts and bus stops was yesterday cleared of murder. Nathan Dixon, 18, did not kill Paul Kelly, 32, who was repeatedly stabbed in an alleyway outside the Longacre Tavern in Bath on January 1 last year, a jury ruled at Bristol crown court. Neil Ford, prosecuting, said Dixon had been seen in a "frenzied attack" on Kelly. But the jury accepted the defence's argument that the witnesses presented in court were unreliable. Before Dixon was arrested, dozens of copies of a poem accusing him of the killing appeared near the scene of Kelly's death.Press Association

Air travel firms accused of misleading passengers

A third of customers who shop for flights online are being ripped off by confusing adverts, the European commission has warned. A scan of hundreds of airline and travel agency websites identified "serious" problems such as hidden charges on one in three of the sites monitored. Airlines and travel companies are accused of adding airport taxes, handling fees, and baggage and seating charges on top of the prices that first appear. The EU consumer commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, gave airlines and tour operators one year to comply with consumer rules or face court action.Elizabeth Manzi

New package to help struggling homeowners

The government will today unveil measures to help homeowners struggling with mortgage payments. The announcement will be made as figures on the number of home repossessions are released, which are expected to show a sharp increase. The initiatives will include an extra £9m over three years to the Citizens Advice Bureau to expand its debt advice service; an expansion of free legal representation at county courts in England for people at risk of repossession; and strengthening the national housing advice service by training 1,000 staff in housing law and financial regulations. Nicholas Watt